Follow the story. It is not long before you are reading how the king in his jealous rage flung his spear at the youth who was trying by music to charm the devil out of him. And but a little later, you are told how Saul sought to bait a death trap for his fancied rival with his own daughter’s love and flesh. It is a terrible story, and I do not hesitate to dwell on it a moment or two longer in order to point out the kind of man who was mastered, embittered, and spoiled by the entering of the demon of jealousy into his life. Saul was a man of fine parts. In his moments of sanity and reasonableness he was a gallant and magnanimous man. But his whole life was cursed and the big man became petty and small, a would-be murderer of the vilest sort, because he gave place to the devil of jealousy. He made David’s life unbearable, and he consigned himself to the hell of a tortured spirit. That is the story and—
IT IS TRUE TO THE FACTS OF LIFE
It would be hard to mention a sin which can do mischief on a larger scale, as well as more subtly poison the springs of character, you can find illustrations in the Bible, in general literature, and in life. It was jealousy that made Cain slay his brother Abel. It was jealousy that made Joseph’s brother meditate and attempt the murder of their brother and sent them home to their father with a lie on their lips and a blood-stained coat in their hand. From literature, take one great illustration instead of many small ones. Part of my reading in preparation for this sermon was Shakespeare’s Othello. How Iago stirs up the spirit of jealousy in the Moor until in a blind passion, which has turned mole hills into mountains and seen in the most trifling incidents causes of suspicion, smothers Desdemona. Listen to the haunting words: “O, beware, my lord of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”
Advancing civilization has not exercised this demon. You can see it at work in the life of today. Think of the racial jealousy which blinds nations to their need of each other and the horrors of war that turns the world into an armed camp. Think of the class war inflamed by the same demon of jealous suspicion. Read in your newspapers the tragedies of life and the wreaks of homes caused by the green-eyed monster. You can see politicians and profession men who can do no sort of justice to one another because their vision and judgment are jaundiced and warped by jealousy.
NO ONE IS EXEMPT FROM THE INSIDIOUS ATTACKS OF THIS SUBTLE DEMON
If you think there is no need for me to warn you against this evil, let one remind you of some things that ought to put us all on our guard. There were men who had been called by Jesus into fellowship with Him. For three years, they had lived with Him, listened to His gracious words, watched His great example, and been under His helpful influence: and yet, on the last night of His life, under the very shadow of the cross, they were all jealous of one another! Their Master had to wash the jealousy from their hearts as He performed the task they had all declined and washed the dust from their feet. Even in the glorious days of the early church, hurtful divisions arose because of little, spiteful jealousies. And how often we have known the peace and effectiveness of modern churches marred because lovers of Christ were jealous of one another!
Even into our homes this spirit enters. Brothers and sisters quarrel and one has seen the house of death turned into a place of shame, and an angry scene take place over a coffin, because of unworthy and jealous suspicions. And there are few of us who could not name the time when we have suffered ourselves or done injustice to others because of jealousy. There is need to say, “O, beware, my master, of the green-eyed monster of jealousy.”
Any man who eyes another as Saul eyed David can do no justice to him. Such feline watchfulness and morbid suspicion will blind us to all the good in another. There may be as much courage and virtue about him as there was in David’s life, but a jealous man or woman will not see it. The fairer face of another, gifts possessed, success achieved, victories won, will be seen through jaundiced eyes. The green eye of the yellow god never sees with appreciation. Jealousy makes men skilled in the easy art of subtle detraction. Let that demon in and if the man you are jealous of succeeds you will argue favor, if he fails you will argue justice: you will never be decent to a successful rival.
There is a couplet in Othello which sets forth a further evil wrote by jealousy. “Trifles, light as air, are to the jealous confirmations strong.” A handkerchief, innocently dropped, was though enough to inflame Othello to the murder of Desdemona. Eyeing David as he did, Saul saw in David’s most innocent words and actions something subtle and deep. And always the jealous man turns trifles into traitorous acts and sees in simple things something aimed at his own honor or place. So it often happens that jealousy leads to murder. Sometimes literally. Oftener to the casting of the javelin of slander and detraction at a good name. Many a man’s chances have been killed by jealousy. Many a home has been wrecked. Many a friendship murdered. I understand that some years ago some splendid butterflies were introduced by the authorities into Battersea Park, but they were torn to pieces by the gutter sparrows. So the lives of some of the most gifted and delightful of the sons of men have been blasted by base jealousy and envy. “Love is strong as death: jealousy as cruel as the grave” (Song of Songs 8.6).
JEALOUSY REACTS POISONOUSLY ON THE JEALOUS
Saul intended to hurt David, but blasted his own life. The large, magnanimous man became a bitter, morose, and blighted man. Base emotions always recoil on themselves. They poison the atmosphere of the soul in which they live until nothing bright and glad can live in it. When jealousy infects the soul, it destroys the very possibility of joyfulness. The green eye is at once the cause and the sign of an ulcerated soul. The passion of jealousy is fatal to those who cherish it. Can there be any hell worse than that in which a jealous man spends his days? For your own sake as well as that of others we urge: Beware of jealousy!
HOW SHALL WE SAFEGUARD OURSELVES?
The first piece of advice is deliberately put bluntly. Stand up to the demon. Give no place to it. From the temptation to jealousy perhaps none of us are exempt. To see others succeeding where we failed, winning the place we coveted, doing the work we wanted, brings the devil to our doors. But brave and true-hearted men and women kick him out. Crush down all envious feelings and pray for grace to congratulate the man or woman who passes you in the race of life. If something happens that you cannot understand, do not harbor unworthy suspicions, either ask or wait for an explanation. Take yourself thoroughly in hand and never eye your fellows in the jealous and suspicious way Saul eyed David.
Yet show I unto you a more excellent way. Turn jealousy into right channels. “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor 11.2). There is a godly jealousy. Do you not sing, “Arm me with jealous care”? Godly jealousy is a jealousy which God has. “The Lord our God is a jealous God.” But the jealousy of God is a solicitude for truth, purity, justice. It is a sensitiveness to anything that hurts the good. He is not jealous of people, but for their welfare. Turn your jealousy into these channels. Be fearful lest anything sully your purity or stains your honor. Be careful that nothing offends or hurts those around you. This is the jealousy of love, and love thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.
“STRENGTHENING A MAN’S HAND IN GOD”—1 Samuel 23.16
(Preached twelve times from Fentiman Road to Roker, Sunderland. Dated